Easter is a time for us to celebrate, but what does it all mean? For followers of Jesus Christ it is special as it is about a time 2000 years ago when God met our need. He provided the right way for us to again be able to have fellowship with Himself. Our way was not good enough [not even close] but His love for us is so great that He gave us Jesus. He allowed Jesus to take our place of being punished. This is why we are able to say ONLY BY GOD’S GRACE. In Jesus we are given a new life, peace, contentment, sureness of our sins forgiven.

So now how does God want us to show that we have that new life?

The basic command has not changed. The Bible tells us in the Old Testament, we are to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul and with all your strength’. Jesus tells us to ‘love one another as I have loved you’

The Easter message is that God loved us so much He came down into this world of ours to show that love. He did not have to do this but HE DID. The very reason Jesus allowed himself to die on the cross was to put in place the only way we can be right with God and then love Him with all our heart, our soul and strength. We who are followers of Jesus and His way of living have not only been commanded to love God but also He demanded that welove our neighbours as ourselves. In the Bible – Luke chapter 6 verse 27 & 28 He said that we are to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless them that curse us, pray for those that misuse us and are willing to hurt us.

Love our neighbours as God has loved us. Jesus practiced what He preached. He went the extra mile, He loved when He was hated, He had time for those that others would walk away from, He sat down with those that others would hate, He embraced the those that were rejected.

Let us the people of God at Carley Church act and continue as Jesus did. Let us go the extra mile. Let us show love to all around us even though we might not be loved back. Let us pray for those who may not have time for us and may misuse our trust. Let us extend our loving arm to those who are rejected by the standards of our society. Let us show mercy to those who may want to hurt us.

God through the Lord Jesus stretched out His love, His mercy, His forgiveness on me who did not deserve it. He asks me to do the same.

Easter is a LOVE STORY OF GOD TO HIS WORLD. Will you be part of His family and live out the message of Jesus so that others will know that only through Him can we be right with God?

I accepted JESUS as my GOD, My SAVIOUR and my LORD over 30 years ago and realise each day how precious GOD’S LOVE is upon my life. My works were never enough to please God but in JESUS I found that His work was enough and by accepting that He was the ONLY WAY I found peace with the Almighty God.